Street, pavement cafés and furniture

A street, pavement café and furniture licence, commonly known as an Alfresco Dining licence, is a temporary licence which allows you to place outdoor dining furniture on the highway. Highway land is specified as any carriageway, footway or verge adopted by Cheshire East Highways.

You must give us at least 3 weeks' notice so we can review, consult on and process your application.

A licence is valid for 2 years from the date we issue it.

Before you apply

You can apply for a temporary alfresco licence to put furniture on pedestrian parts of the adopted highway.

We cannot grant a licence for premises on:

• private roads
• unadopted roads or
• land which is not a pedestrianised part of an adopted highway.

Check that you are on an adopted road by checking our road gazetteer.

Only the named person responsible for the main premises using the outside space can apply. You do not need to seek planning permission for a temporary licence.

What you need

You must provide:

• a site plan of the proposed seating area showing basic dimensions
• proof of public liability insurance covering at least £5m

Fees and charges

Initial licence for 24 months

• Up to 6 seats: £150

• More than 6 seats: £500

Annual renewal

• Up to 6 seats: £150
• More than 6 seats: £350

Youmust pay all fees online when you submit your application form.

Refunds are available for both, but an administration fee of £114 will be deducted.

Apply

To find out how we use your information see our privacy notice (opens in a new window).

You will need to print the notice at the end of your application or download the PDF to print, sign and display.

After you apply

We will process your application and give feedback within 3 weeks of receiving your application.

In the meantime you will need to display a notice advertising your application at the premises for 14 days from submission of the application. You can print this from the second email you received from ‘citizen hub’.

If we receive any objections we will contact you to see if we can grant the licence with or without changes.

Once the licence has been issued, this will be valid for 2 years from the date of issue.

Questions about your application

• Phone: 0300 123 5025
• Email: streetworks@cheshireeasthighways.org

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